Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya Utalii College has launched a new Barista Training Centre in a move aimed at expanding employment and income opportunities for young people in the hospitality and coffee sectors.
The initiative has been supported through a partnership between the Republic of Türkiye, via the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), and the Ushiriki Wema Foundation.
The collaboration seeks to equip Kenyan youth with practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to the growing demand for skilled professionals in the coffee and tourism industries.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Subutay Yuksel said Kenya’s coffee enjoys global recognition, not only as a premium export but also as a symbol of the country’s heritage and economic potential.
“Kenya enjoys worldwide recognition for its high-quality coffee, a product that represents both heritage and economic potential,” Yuksel said.
“To fully unlock this potential, there is a clear and growing need for skilled professionals who can add value across the coffee sector.”
The project is designed to train professional baristas who can serve Kenya’s expanding hospitality industry as well as the wider coffee value chain.
The centre is fully equipped with modern barista machines and technology and will offer both theoretical instruction and hands-on practical training.
The curriculum covers the entire coffee journey, from farm to cup, ensuring trainees gain a comprehensive understanding of coffee production, processing and preparation.
Students enrolled at the centre will receive practice-oriented training in roasting techniques, espresso-based beverages and cold drink preparation.
According to the project partners, the skills imparted are aligned with international standards, enabling graduates to compete locally and globally in the coffee and hospitality industries.
Yuksel said the initiative would play a key role in strengthening Kenya’s coffee culture while supporting sustainable employment and improving service standards in the tourism sector.
“More broadly, it symbolises the deepening friendship and cooperation between Türkiye and Kenya, founded on mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for development,” he said. “I am confident that this Barista Training Centre will become a model for vocational training in Africa and a proud symbol of Türkiye–Kenya cooperation.”
Chairperson of the Ushiriki Wema Foundation, Tessie Musalia Mudavadi, said the launch of the centre aligns with Kenya Utalii College’s long-standing mission to produce highly skilled and globally competitive professionals for the hospitality and tourism industry.
“The mission at Kenya Utalii College to develop highly skilled and globally competitive professionals for the hospitality and tourism industry is a source of pride that we must carry as a nation,” Tessie said. “It is our hope that these barista machines will boost your capacity to enroll and train even more young people.”
She noted that while barista training may appear simple on the surface, it holds significant value in a country renowned for producing some of the world’s finest coffee.
“Barista training may seem simple, but in Kenya, a country celebrated for its world-class coffee, it is a valuable skill that opens doors locally and internationally, creating opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance,” she said.
“This training is an investment in your skills, your potential, and your future as brand ambassadors, helping to add value to Kenya’s coffee heritage.”
Kenya Utalii College Chief Executive Officer Mark Ogendi said the new facility would enhance the quality of training offered to barista students by aligning learning with industry needs and global best practices.
“The centre will go a long way in ensuring barista students receive quality, industry-aligned training and meaningful exposure to global standards of coffee craftsmanship,” Ogendi said.
He added that the facility is expected not only to improve learning outcomes but also to attract more young people to barista training and position Kenya as a regional hub for professional coffee excellence.
